MLB exec: Yankees' Gleyber Torres has 'it' like Derek Jeter

At least that's how some fans outside of the Bronx like to deride the excitement around Yankees prospects. While there have been quite a number of misses (Kevin Mass, Ed Yarnall, Hideki Irabu, Ricky Ledee), the Yankees have put out more than a few prospects that have become stars over the years.

Yet, until Gary Sanchez showed up last summer, few impact players had arrived for about two decades. So when someone inside baseball would compare a Yankees prospect to an all-time great--like, say, Phil Hughes to Roger Clemens--it was easy to scoff. Times may be changing as the Yankees farm system becomes more legitimate by the day.

According to an assistant to a National League general manager, Torres has some of the same special qualities that Derek Jeter did at a young age.

"He's got that aura about him. That big league aura. It's like a confidence you see in very talented players and he's got it. You never want to compare a shortstop in the Yankees organization to Derek Jeter, but Jeter had that 'it' about him at a young age as well."

Ah, the age-old 'it' factor that has been used to describe countless athletes over the years.

Jeter turned it into over 3,000 hits and one of the best careers any shortstop has ever had. Torres, after hitting .403 with a .513 OBP and 1.158 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, is on his way to making a mark in pinstripes within the next few years.